10 Questions
What are the two units into which the skeleton is divided for study?
The skull (cranial skeleton) and the postcranial skeleton
What are the three distinct parts that form the vertebrate skull or cranium?
Splanchnocranium, chondrocranium, and dermatocranium
What is the collective term used to refer to the fused cranial components surrounding and encasing the brain?
Braincase
What is the neurocranium equivalent to according to some morphologists?
Chondrocranium
What idea grew from the observation that elements of the chondrocranium appeared to lie in series with the bases of the vertebrae?
The proposal that the primitive vertebral column initially extended into the head to produce the skull
What is the main function of the skeleton in vertebrate bodies?
Shape, weight support, movement production, and protection of soft parts
Why do bits of the skeleton often survive fossilization better than soft tissue anatomy?
Because the skeleton is hard
What does the architecture of the skeleton reveal about vertebrate function and evolution?
The story of vertebrate function and evolution
What are the two main components of the skeletal system?
Exoskeleton and endoskeleton
How do most bones of the exoskeleton evolve during vertebrate evolution?
Stay within the integument and protect surface structures
Test your knowledge on the functions and importance of the vertebrate skeleton, which provides shape, support, and protection to the body. Learn about how skeletal structures offer insights into the evolution and function of various vertebrate species.
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